Bosom-ironing machine.



C. L BRALEY BOSOM IRONING'MACHINE.

APELICATION FILED MAR. 4. 9m

Patented July 17, 1917.

6 SHEETS-SHEET! C. L. BRALEY.

BOSOM IRONING MACHINE. APPLICATION rILE D MAR. 4. 1915.

Patented July 17, 1917'.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2 ATTORNEYS C L. BRALEY.

BOSOM IRONING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 4. 1915.

Patented Ju1y17, .1

6 SHEETSSHEET 4.

3mm Uzarleslfiralgr C.L.BRALEY. BOSOM IRONING MACHINE.

APPLlCATlON FILED MAR. 4.1915- mgmm, Patented July 17, 1917'.

Y 6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

7121s v4 TTOR/VEVS C. L. BRALEY.-

BOSOM IRONINGMACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 4. 1915.

' Patented July 17, 1917.

a 6 SHEETS-SHEET 6- lamb.

CHARLES L. BRALEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN LAUNDRY MACHINERY COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

BOSOM-IRONING llIACI-IINE.

Application filed March 4, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES L. BRALEY, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bosom-Iron' 'ing Machines; and Ido hereby declare the employeda relatively movable heated chest and ironing board adapted to be brought into engagement with each other for ironing a shirt bosom disposed on the board,;. and the invention contemplates several. novel features which have to do with the manner of stretching and holding a shirt on the board preparatory to the ironing operation. One of the objects of the im-,

provement is to aflord a convenient readily operated mechanism for stretching.

or expanding the neck-band of theshirt; Another object contemplated by my 1nvention consists in .providing novel and 1mproved means for engaging and holding the tail portions of a shirt whereby the bosom may be stretched over the board, Still another feature of the improvement resides in the provision of means for clamping or maintaining the yoke portion of a shirt with relation to the bosom board so as to permit the bosom to be stretched and at the same time, make it possible to retain the folding line of the yoke and the finish which has already been imparted to it on a yoke ironing machine. To these and other ends the invention consists in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in .the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partially in section, illustrating a type of ironing machine to which my invention is applicable;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the yoke retaining means in operative position engaging the yoke, prior to the elevation of the ironing board support;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the bosom board support in its elevated posi Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July it", iorr.

Serial No. 11,940.

tion, the yoke retaining means and tail retaining means having been released;

Fig. 4: is a plan view of the ironing board; I

Fig. 5 is an end view of the ironing board support;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of theboard, showing a portion of the tail retaining means in section;

Fig. 7 is an end elevation, partially in section, of one of the tail. holders;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the board, 7

and

' Fig. 9 is'a transverse sectional view of one of the tail holders.

Similar reference characters throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

The several features of the invention maybe successfully carried out with different stylesof bosom ironing machines, and

it is not limited in any sense to the particular application of the present embodiment which, is intended solely for the purpose .ofillustration, and in which is shown a turret style of machine embodying a base 1, frame 2, and top portion 3, carrying the heated .chest 4, to which steam or other heating medium may be supplied. 5 designates a rotary turret provided with a pair of' ironing board supports 6 which are adapted to be elevated, when properly located beneath the steam chest, by mechanism that forms no part of the present invention and will therefore not be described in detail as it involves nothing more than what is common and well known in the art and illustrated in a number of patents. Furthermore I do not limit myself to a machine in which the ironing board is elevated toward the heated chest, as the parts may be otherwise arranged to bring the heated chest and ironing board into ironing relation with one another.

Mounted on the ironing board support is an ironing board or bosom board 7 which is preferably fixed 'on the support 6 against movement. The ironing board is provided with neck band expanding means extending partially beyond the board and comprising fixed and movable members and operating devices therefor located at the opposite end of the board, in order to facilitate the operation of expanding the neck band, and to permit the operator to control the ex pander from the lower end or foot of the board. In carrying o'.t this feature of the invention, Iemploy a stationary forward portion 8 which engages the front of the neck band and is fixed on the ironing board, while 9 designates a pair of adjustable wings or expanding members which engage (the rear part of the neck band and are movable in order to stretch the neck band. The wings 9 are controlled by a rod 10 mounted on a central portion 11 which is slidable on the ironing board and is connected to an operating portion or frame arranged beneath the board. The operating portion referred to includes side bars 12 movable in suitable guides 13 and connected at one end by a cross piece 14: carrying a" vertically extending pin 15 which in turn is connected to the member '11 of the neck band expander,

so that as the operating portion is moved in one direction or the other, the wings 9 will be correspondingly adjusted. The frame or operating portion for the expander is preferably controlled by operating means located adjacent to or nearthe lower end of the ironing board, opposite to the end at which the expander is positioned and this can be carried out in a variety of ways. I prefer,

however, to arrange tail retaining means on the'operating portion or frame, making it, possible for the operator to stretch the shirt by securing the tail portions to the tail retaining means, and simultaneously crating the neck band expander, thus combining two operations in one and to this extent reducing the time required in operating the machine. To this end, the side rods 12 are provided with arms 16, each of which is provided with an independent tail retaining device. The tail retaining devices are preferably in the form of elongated rotary holders eachconsisting of a hollow casing fixed on a. sleeve 17 which is journaled on a spindle 18. A spring 19 has one end thereof'connected to the spindle 18 and its opposite en to the casing mounted on the sleeve 17, and the latter is provided with a ratchet wheel20 engaged by a dog 21 carried by a pin 22 which is actuated by a spring 23. The parts last described constitute a locking 'means for preventing movement of the holder in one direction,

that is to say, for preventing unwinding of the tail of the shirt after it is once secured until the heated chest and ironing board are in ironing relation, at which time the locking means is automatically released, per- 1 construction affords gripping portions on the holder, which engage the garment more readily and make it possible for the operator to obtain a firmer hold, and to wind the shirt on the holder quickly and securely. The corrugated formation causes the shirt to grip the holder tightly, and to this extent simplifies and quickens the entire operation. When ironing coat shirts, or shirts in which the bosom is centrally divided, it is a' difiicult matter to stretch the shirt with a single tail clamp owing to the necessity 'for stretching both parts of the bosom alike. To overcome this, I employ a pair of indc pendent tail retaining devices, one for each portion of the shirt, so that the two parts of the bosom can be stretched independently of one another. ranged in spaced relation to each other, preferably .one above the otherand extending from opposite sides of the machine so that they overlap each other at their adjacent ends and in practice, one of the tail portions is wound about one of the holders, the other one being wound about the other holder, the bosom being stretched over the ironing board with a substantially even tension throughout, and the operator may easily turn the holders and at the same time apply pressure directed so as to move the entire operating portion or frame, causing a simultaneous expansion of the neck band expander within the neck band. The mechanism for releasing the locking means "at the limit of theupward movement of the ironing board will be described presently. It is necessary to afford a support for the yoke portion and this has been done heretofore by the ironing board, which engaged -the inside of the shirt substantially asfar as the folding line of the oke. It is highly desirable to maintain fixed the yoke folding line, which has already been established on a yoke ironing machine, before the garment is subjected to a bosom ironin operation, and in no way to disturb the nish of the yoke as established on the yoke ironer, and to this end I shorten the ironing board, with relation to the neck band expander as shown in Fig. 4, and provide independent yoke retaining means. This may be accomplished in various ways and a preferred method consists in using a pair of yoke engaging members one of which consists of a yoke table or support 26 which, when in its operative position is in alinement with the ironing board, extending across the width of the board and disposed under the wings or rear portion of the neck band expander. The yoke table or support 26 is carried-by arms 27 which are fixed on a shaft 28, the latter being journaled in bearings 29 of a frame 30 which in turn is fixed on a shaft 31 journaled in bearings 32 of the main frame 33, fixedly mounted on the support 6.

. Cooperating with the yoke table are clamp- The tail holders are arward portion of the expander.

3. The yoke table 26 is adjustable on the. arms 27 by means of threaded bolts 38 carried by the table and engaging corresponding openings in the arms. The arms 27 are also provided with slotted guides39 which are engaged by levers 40 fixed upon a shaft 41 and operated through connecting rods 42. The connecting rods 42 pass through openings in the levers 40, and 43 are springs disposed on the rods 42 between levers 40 and adjustable stops 44 secured to the ends of the rods. The connecting rods 42 are pivotally connected to arms" fixed. on a shaft 45 the movement of which is controlled by an operating lever 46. l/Vith the parts in normal position shown in Fig. 2, the operating lever 46 is in a vertical position and by moving it down to the position shown in Fig. 3, the rods 42 are pulled to the left causing the levers 40 to be raised to a vertical position and thus elevating the yoke table and at the same time bringing the clamping members 34 down onto the yoke table and the parts remain in this position until automatically released in the manner 1 which will presently he described. The frame 30 already referred to, which carries the yoke table and clamping members swings about the axis of shaft 31 which carries an arm 47 that is connected yieldably to a rod 48, pivoted to an arm 49 fixed on shaft 41. 50 is a spring arranged between the arm 47 and the adjustable stop 51 secured to the a very slight rocking of the frame 30 about.

axis 31, and this causes a slight movement of the yoke retaining means in a direction substantially in the plane of the ironing table and away from the same. of the yoke retaining means comes after the movements of the clamping and stretching devices, already described, and serves to draw the shirt farther, and to bring the neck band into tight engagement with the neck band expander, particularly at the for- It will be understood that the yoke table engages the outside of the yoke, and in order to protect the body portion of the shirt and to assist guards 52 which are fixed on the yoke table,

This movement and adapted to lie in a plane withand in slightly spaced relation to the ironing board as shown in Figs. 3 and 4,.forming a sup port for the sleeves and body portion of the shirtwhich lies at either side of the ironing board. The yoke retaining means is held in its operative position by reason of the fact that the ends of rods 42 are moved beneath the center line of their pivotal connections and the axis 45, as shown in Fig. 3, further. movement of the lever 46 being limited by a projection 53 engaging a stop 54. The projection 53 is fixed on the shaft 45 which also carries a projection arranged to engage the stop 56, as shown in Fig. '2. It is necessary to release the yoke retaining means at the limit of the upward movement of the ironing board support, or as soon as the heated chest and; ironing board are brought into ironing relation, and in order to effect this, I employ a rod. 57 which is arranged to engage the projection 53 and through it, turn the shaft 45 until the lug 62. Thus when the ironing board support is elevated, the turret being stationary, the bar 61 is pulled downwardly causing, the shaft 59 to be rocked and in turn operating the rod 57 to release the parts as before described.

The operating portion or frame controlling the movable parts of the neck band expander is held in adjusted position by spring actuated clutches 65, controlled by springs 66 and engaging the rods 12 as shown in Figsl 2 and 3. In order to release the clutches 65 and the tail holders already described, when the ironing board and heated chest are brought into ironing relation, the following mechanism is employed. 66

is arod connected with the turret iii-the same manner as the bar 61already referred to, and pivoted at its upper end to an arm 67 fixed on the shaft 68. The latter carries an operating handle 69 fixedly mounted thereon, and arms 70, to which are pivoted rods 71, engaging openings in levers 72,

levers 77a're provided pivoted at 78 and connected to the pins 22 bya ball and socket 'joint 7 9. The levers 77 liein .the path of support, one having movement vertically of normal position. This releases the tail por-' tion of the shirt which is thenentirely free to be removed from the ironing table when the latter is-lowered out of the heated chest. I I

Iolaim as myinvention:

engagement with 1. In an ironing machine,fthe combina "tion with a heated chest and an ironing board support, one having movement verticallyof the other to bring them into ironing relation, of an ironing board fixed. on the.

support, a neck band expander arranged at one end of the board and including a stationary and a movable member, an operating.

portion connected to the movable member andextending beyond the oppositeend of the board, and tail retaining means mounted on the opera-tingportion.

with a heated chest and an ironing board the other to bring them into .ironing relation,

of an ironing board fixedon the support,

tail retaining means mounted on the support and including a rotary holder, locking means acting to 'retain the holder against movement in one direction, and automatically controlled devices operating to release the locking means when the heated chest and ironing board support are brought into ironing relation.

3. In an ironing machine, the combination with a heated chest and .an ironing board support, one having movement vertically of the other to bring them into ironing relation, of an ironing board mounted on the support, a yoke table independent of the board and mounted on the support, and a clamping member cooperating with the yoke table.

4. In an ironing machine, the combination I with a heated chest and an ironing board support, one having movement vertically of the other to bring them into ironingrelation, of an ironing board mounted. on the support, and yoke retaining means independent of the ironing'board, and mounted on the support.

5. In an ironing machine, the combine tion with a heated chest, and an ironing board support, one having movement vertically of the other to bring them into ironing relation, of an ironing board fixed on the support, a yoke table movably arranged on the support, and a clamping member cooperating with the yoke table.

. ;6.."In an ironing machine, the combination with a heated chest and an ironing board support, one having movement vertically of the other to bring them into ironing relation, of an ironing board mounted on the support and a pair of movable yoke engaging members-mounted on the support and cooperating to retain the yoke in position.

7. In an ironing machine, the. combination with a heated chest and an ironing board support, one having movement vertically of the other to bring them into iron- 1 ing relation, of an ironing board mounted on the support, and a pair of yoke engaging members pivotally'mounted on the support andmovable from-above and below to- ,ward each other to engage and retain the yoke of a shirt.

8. In an ironing machlne, the combination with a heated chest and an ironing board support, one having movement vertically of the other to bring them into ironing relation, of an ironing board mounted on the'support, and yoke retaining means located beyond the board and acting to hold f the'yoke of a shirt. 2. In an ironing machine, the'combination 9. In an ironing machine, the combination with a heated chest and an ironing board support, one having movement vertilly of the other to bring them into ironing relation, of an ironing board mounted on the support, a pair of yoke engaging members ivotally mounted on the support and move; le from above and below toward each other to engage and retain the yoke of a shirt, and guards carried by the lower yoke engaging 'member and cooperating with the body of a shirt when the member iselevated.

10. an ironin machine, the combination'with a heate chest and an ironing board support, one having movement verticallyv of the other to bring them into ironing relation, of an ironing board mounted on the support, a pair of yoke engaging members pivotally mounted on the support and movable from above and below toward each other to engage and retain the yoke board support, one having movement vertically of the other to bring them into ironing relation, of'an ironing board mounted on the support, a neck band expander carried. by the board and projecting beyond the same, a yoke table positioned beneath the projecting part of the expander, and a clampmg member cooperating with the yoke table.

12. In'an ironing machine, the combination with a heated chest and an ironing board support, one having movement vertically of the other to bring them into ironing relation, of an ironing board mounted on the support, and yoke retaining means acting to hold the yoke of a shirt and movable away from the board .to stretch the shirt.

13. In an ironing machine, the-combination with a heated chest and an ironing holder, locking means acting to retain the holder against movement, and automatieally controlled devices operating to release the lockingmeans when the heated chest and ironing board support are brought into ironing relation.

CHARLES L. BRALEY. Witnesses: r

GEo. T. RINGHOFF,

C. H. SoRDELET. 

